Sunday, 31 December 2017

This year marked 6 times I'd visited New York. New York has been the go-to solo place to travel to, as its easy to navigate around the City. I love the shopping in New York, but there's like a million places I'd love to see. After reading Ellistuesday's blog "5 places I'd love to visit next", it made me want to write up places I'd love to see.

Los Angeles

(Image from Google)

I have visited Los Angeles 4 times and have soo many memories. Things change and my last visit was in 2008. I loved Hollywood and Beverly Hills, but I'd never went up to the Hollywood sign. The Hollywood sign seems to make a regular appearance in my dream, but it's always in the distance. I think it's trying to tell me to go back.

Pennsylvania

(Image from Google )

Having a good memory has its ups and downs. If you tell me your birthday, I'll never forget it. My parents took us on holiday, in 1998 to Florida. I met an American girl called Sarah, from Pennsylvania. We wrote and sent things to eachother, but that changed into emailing. Back in those days it was dial up internet, where you paid per minute. The last email I remember Sarah saying, she was moving house. Then my parents cancelled the internet altogether, saying it was costing too much. When we finally got broadband I tried emailing Sarah, but the emails just came back "not sent". I thought I'd lost contact with Sarah forever. Years later Facebook came alive, I'd search. The biggest problem, was her name is so popular. I had little to go by except known her name, her birthday, her colour of hair (which she could have changed, by now), she had a brother and she was from Pennsylvania. I was determined to find her, feeling like it was my fault we lost contact. Then one day I came across an American people search website and asks for the persons date of birth. I got 1 result, with an address. I wrote a letter asking if she was in Florida May 1998 and put my email and address. Exactly 1 week after sending the letter, I got an email saying it was her.

We've been back in contact for around, 2 years. Sometimes it's hard as we met in 1998 and she said she moved in 2001, so years have went by. We manage to talk about New York, as we've visited New York. It's crazy to think it's been nearly 20 years since we met in Florida, so I'd love to visit Sarah's home land and meet her.

Las Vegas and Arizona

(Image from Google)

My friend from school, moved back to her home (USA). She moved to Las Vegas and has since moved to Arizona. I have promised my friend for years, I'll visit her.

Atlantis Bahamas

(Image from Google)

Ever since I watched the movie "Holiday in the sun", it's been a dream to visit Atlantis in the Bahamas. It looks too romantic... someone can take me there.

Australia

(Image from Google)

I stumbled across a story online, mentioning family names I heard of. I decided to send a message to the person saying I think we are related. It turned out her gran and my great gran were 1st cousin. Her grandparents moved to Australia with her mum and Kirsty, who I contacted was the first born Australian in the family.

I stay in contact with Kirsty on Facebook and it's funny, I think I hear from her more than my close family. We've promised we will meet up one day whether it's Scotland or Australia.

Monday, 25 December 2017

Every year when I decorate my Christmas tree, my Mum always asks if I have any New York Christmas decorations. I always say no. Am just never in New York during Christmas season. Then in January while visiting the Empire State Building, I was one of these fools buying a Christmas decoration. I may add it wasn't on sale or anything. I paid full price $15, but then they know tourists will buy it.

Today it suddenly came to my mind that I bought the decoration, so it's finally hanging on my tree. (It's got a switch and lights up, but it's kind of hard to photo with the lights flashing)

I headed with my family to Westgate Farm for Christmas dinner. The worker came over and said "hi my name is bla bla, am your therapist, I mean server for today. We were like therapist ? She explained she has 2 jobs and she mixed up haha.

It was a three course meal and you had the option to take your dessert home, so we took the cake home.

Sunday, 17 December 2017

I always dreamed of owning a Jo Malone candle, but i was toing and froing about spending £45 on a candle. My parents headed to Jamaica last year, so they bought me one at dutyfree. I loved it that much, I have ended up buying another Jo Malone Christmas candle this year. I always believe you get what you pay for. Jo Malone is a luxury brand and their products, always come in a ribbon tied box.

Pine and eucalyptus candle, has that Christmas smell to it. The smell would make a good alternative, if you didn't want a real Christmas tree.

Wednesday, 13 December 2017

My favourite thing at Christmas is picking a real tree (the tree I picked is the Norway spruce, from B&Q). Real trees have that Christmasy smell to them. I actually bought an artificial Christmas tree, when I moved into my house. Then I decided to celebrate my first year in my house, by getting a real tree. Ever since, I've always opted for a real tree.

Wednesday, 6 December 2017

The things you see everyday, you take for granted. I remember visiting Hollywood for the first time and walking along the walk of fame, trying to spot all the celebrity names. The second visit to Hollywood, it's a different atmosphere. You spotted the first timer tourists, with their heads to the ground. I loved the shops in Hollywood and Beverly Hills, but I think after 4 visits I started to take the place for granted. It's been 10 years since I visited Hollywood and now it's a dream to go back.

I have went to New York every January, the last few years. (I won't be going to New York this January, as am hoping to go away somewhere different for my birthday.) My favourite thing to do in New York is taking a night walk, seeing all the Christmas decorations around the City. It made me think I never pay attention to the Christmas decorations in my own City, Edinburgh. After waiting in all day to get my washing machine fixed, I headed for a walk around town.

I walked around town trying to spot all the Christmassy things and snapped some photos.